EVC: Enabling those who want to work

Emory Valley Center employees led legislators, business leaders and volunteers on a tour of its facilities Friday morning.

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By Donna Smith/The Oak Ridger

Oakridger - Oak Ridge, TN

By Donna Smith/The Oak Ridger

Posted Sep. 1, 2013 at 2:59 PM

By Donna Smith/The Oak Ridger

Posted Sep. 1, 2013 at 2:59 PM

Emory Valley Center employees led legislators, business leaders and volunteers on a tour of its facilities Friday morning.

Among those who toured the facility were U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Third District, state Reps John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, and Kent Calfee, R-Kingston.

While much of the Emory Valley Center’s activities for intellectually disabled adults take place in the former Daniel Arthur Rehabilitation Center on Emory Valley Center, the EVC’s facility across the road provides a workshop for many of the adults to work.

On Friday, the many adults worked on contracts such as rolling up ASAP (Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention) of Anderson County T-shirts that were going to be shot out to the crowd at the Clinton High-Anderson County High football game. Another project included separating rolls of plastic that would be used as part of a communication system in coal mines.

“Anyone who wants to work, should work,” said Heather Gann, EVC vice president of operations.

In addition to working at EVC, some adults are trained to work outside EVC. Darryl Monday is EVC’s new workforce development director. He explained that EVC employees look at the adults’ interests and other factors in deciding where to place them. He talked of one man who was placed as a bun warmer at Wendy’s and ended up becoming a cook and working for the hamburger restaurant for 15 years.

In addition to the work, Emory Valley Center has group homes for many adults. EVC President Jennifer Enderson said there are six large group homes — five in Oak Ridge, one in Clinton.

“Truly we do God’s work here, there’s no other way to say it,” said Robin Biloski, EVC development director.

Biloski planned to be at Oak Ridge City Council on Monday night to ask the Council for a flashing light to slow down the traffic on Emory Valley Road where the road must be crossed between the two EVC facilities.

EVC also has a preschool for children of “all abilities,” said Director Terry Peek.

A campaign to raise funds to build a new Emory Valley Center is underway. Gene Caldwell, the retired Oak Ridge pediatrician who chairs the campaign with Dottie Thompson, said currently about $2.5 million to $2.75 million has been raised. A total of approximately $3.3 million is needed.

Emory Valley Center is funded through the Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, the U.S. Department of Human Service's Division of Rehabilitative Services, the U.S. Department of Housing and Human Development, the Tennessee Department of Education, and the United Way, according to its website, www.emoryvalleycenter.com.